Current-collecting device



(No Model.)

B. M. HUNTER. CURRENT COLLECTING DEVICE.

arms cc, vuovou-mo wAsmNeYu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN OR TO THE THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

CURRENT-COLLECTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,437, dated June 16, 1891.

Application filed December 18, 1889. Serial No. 334,156. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern ject to overcome the existing objections found Be it l nown that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, in these various constructions of collectorof the city and county of Philadelphia, and arms, and to accomplish this result I first take State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Imatube of metal,preferably of steel, of a length 55 provement in Current-Collecting Devices for slightly shorter than that required in the arm,

Electrieally-Propelled Vehicles, of which the and then upon a mandrel by means of suitfollowing is a specification. ably-constructed rolls I cause the tube to be My invention has reference to current-eolrolled either in the cold or heated condition lecting devices for electrically propelled vedown upon the said mandrel, producing an 60 IO hicles; and it consists of certain improveelongation, and at the same time a gradual ments which are fully set forth in the followreduction in diameter. After the tube is so 111g specification, and shown in the accomtapered I drive out the mandrel and fit upon panying drawings, which form a part thereof. the small end thereof the contact device, and

This application (Case 126) has particular upon the large end thereof a socket-piece for 65 x 5 reference to the construction of the upwardlyconnecting with the supporting device on the extending arm, whereby it is made tapering car. By this construction I have the diameto give the necessary lightness with the proper ter of the arm tapering and of smaller diamecondition for strength. ter as the end is approached, and at all parts I-Ieretofore it has been customary to use a through the arm there is a clear passage-way 7o long bamboo or other wooden pole, a metal for aconductor, which maybe placed through rod, a tube of uniform diameter throughout, the tube leading from the contact device. or an arm composed of two sections of tubing Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an of different diameters welded together over a elevation, with part in section, of a current solid piece of metal arranged Within the tubcollecting device embodying my invention. 75 ing at the point of juncture. The wooden Fig. 2 shows a piece of tubing from which the poles have been found entirely too light, and collector-arm is rolled, and Fig. 3 is a side were speedily destroyed by the inclement elevation showing the mandrel and rolls for weather and hard usage to which they were rolling my improved collector-arm. put. The solid rods are excessively heavy, First referring to the construction of the So and for the same amount of metal have not collector-arm, A is a tubular arm, which dethe resisting capacity of the tubes. The tube creases in diameter from the socket end, or of uniform diameter is bulky and throws so that which is next to the car, to the end which much needless weight to the extremity or is connected to the contact device, such deeontact portion that excessivelylarge springs crease being proportional to the shearing 85 3 5 must be used to sustain it in a vertical posistrain which is exerted by the pressure upon tion, and, furthermore, this construction he the contact, and also due to the weight of said cessitates in practice'such an arrangement contact and the arm adjacent to it, and the that the spring shall constantly vary in its end of the arm next to the car is fitted in the power to compensate for the great variation socket B, formed of a casting or other suitable 0 40 in the strain due to the differences in leverage construction, which may be hinged or otherof the arm, which differences in leverage are wise fastened to the car in any of the wellgreatly augmented by the excessive weight known manners now in use. The free Or near the contact ends, and the poles which upper end of the arm is preferably screware jointed are found in practice to be weak threaded, and upon it a socket-piece is se- 95 at the joints, and, furthermore, are not symcured, carrying the contact roller or shoe D. metrical, are not strictly proportioned to the F is a lock-nut, which is also secured upon duty which they are required to perform, and, the end of the arm A, and jams against the in addition, prevent the possibility of insertunder part of the socket-piece C, and is reing a copper conductor within the tube from duced in diameter at its upper part, so as to 100 the contact end to the base of support. form, in conjunction with the part 0, an an- In carrying out my invention it is my obnular groove 6, in which fits a ring E, to which the trolley-guard J is secured. A conductor G may be connected to the socket-piece C or other part of the contact device and extend through the hollow tubular arm A and car, so as to convey the current to the motor without necessarily relying upon the connections in the various parts of the arm and its appendages.

The arm A is formed of a tube, (shown in Fig. 2,) which is placed upon a tapering mandrel H, (shown in Fig. 3,) and then passed between the rolls 1, which may be made eccentric, so as to gradually decrease the aperture formed between them, making it of such a diameter as to correspond to the diameter of the mandrel plus double the thickness of the metal of the tube. After the tube and its mandrel are run between the rolls I it will be found that the tube has been made tapering, as required, and maybe readily removed from the mandrel. It is quite evident that various kinds of machinery may be employed forproducing this tapering of the contact-arm; but that described is exceedingly simple and Well adapted to the purpose. It is also evident that in place of using a previously-formed tube a tube-skelp may be rolled into the tapering form 5 but I prefer to first form the tube in the ordinary way, and then roll it into the tapered form, as hereinbefore described. I do not limit myself to the exact degree of the taper, as it maybe auniform taper or one in which the amount of taper is of a variable quantity with uniform distance along the length of the arm; but in all cases there is a decided taper from one end of the frame to the other, and the arm is formed complete without joints.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A collector-arm for an electrically-propelled vehicle, formed of a tube of graduallydecreasing diameter and provided with an aperture throughout its length, combined with a grooved contact device at its smaller end and a socket piece or holder at its larger end.

2. A current collecting arm for an electrically-propelled vehicle, consisting of a continuous tube of gradually-decreasing diameter, the entire length of which is formed of an integral piece of metal without transverse joints or welds, and provided at the smaller end with a contact-wheel and a support for same mechanically secured to the tube.

3. The combination of a current-collecting device, of a tube made hollow throughout its length and of gradually-decreasing diameter, a contact device secured to and carried at its upper and smaller end, and an electric conductor extending from the contact end of the collector through the tube to the car.

4. In a current-collecting device, the combination of an upwardly-extending arm, a socket-piece secured upon the free end of said arm and carrying the contact device, a locking-nut F, formed with a reduced part and screwed upon the free end of the arm and against the under side of the socket-piece to form an annular groove 6, a loose ring E, received in said groove, and a trolley-cord J, se-

. cured to said ring.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER.

\Vitnesses:

ERNEST HO ARD HUNTER, S. T. YERKEs. 

